New Pagoda Owner and New Member

[mherman2]

About a year ago I had a novel Idea of buying my wife a car from her year of birth (1968). I found a 1968 European 280 SL listed in San Francisco. Owned by a piano player in San Francisco for 23 years. He bought the car in Germany in 1983 and shipped it home.

I am new to these cars in particular. I know the serial number is 000857. There is also a number plate on the front left under the hood. It has the chassis style 113 and a bunch of other numbers.

I have also read about data cards. How does get one for their car and can any help tell me if this a rarer 1968 or just a run of the mill so to speak.

Thank you

Mike

[Jonny B]

There is a lot of information on the site about interpreting the numbers on the plate under the hood, for getting the data card from the MB archives, and for interpreting all the numbers on the data card.

Use the search function, limit to general discussion, subject line and use "data card" as the search item. Also try "data plate" to get information on the plate under the hood. The main items here are the paint codes (body and top) and the body number (different from VIN, that matches up with the numbers stamped on the hood, soft top lid and hard top. The threads will explain.

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

[Nate]

Welcome and congratulations!  You can contact the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine.  Provide them with your VIN # 113XXXXXXX and ask them to email you a copy of your SL's data card.